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3/16/15

Chivalry Is A Man’s Recognition Of His Privileges

Some say that the age of
chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead. The age of chivalry is
never past, so long as there is a wrong left unredressed on earth.

Charles
Kingsley (1819-1875)

Some time ago I posted an article
where I mentioned how “few words create such a vivid, complex, controversial,
and individualized interpretation within the English language
as Gentleman. Although Chivalry isn’t far behind.” At that time, I focused
on the universal archetype of the Gentleman, leaving to deal with Chivalry on a
later date.

Guess what? It’s a later date.

Many people dismiss (or rather would
like to dismiss) chivalry as a concept whose time has passed. “I treat everyone
equally” or “it’s about being civil” or the ever present “I respect everyone”
are used over and over as an apparent dismissal of the need for Chivalry. Others
have called Chivalry as a form of “benevolent sexism” citing the fact that
gentlemen tend to offer ladies a higher level of respect in actions than they
do other men. This would be true if it had anything to do with what chivalry
actually is and the obligations it imposes on a gentleman.

I used the word obligations with
full intent of the word. Since the days of the Knight and the Samurai and the Junzi,
the chivalrous had moral obligations due to his privileged position within
society. They understood the blessings they possessed, and also understood that
these blessings came with a series of duties. This attitude carried on to the
gentlemen of old and carries on to the modern gentlemen. The problem today is
how men refuse to acknowledge their social obligations as they refuse to
acknowledge the privileges within their lives.

Your age gives you the privilege of experience.
This means you have the duty of mentorship. Your youth gives you the privilege
of strength. This means you have an obligation to protect those you can. Up to
now, this is pretty easy to understand by everyone. But it’s when you move to
recognizing some touchy subjects that people tend to ignore their privileges
within the world. Here’s where most tend to falter within their duties and
obligations as they refuse to see the inequalities within the world and how
they are benefited from these social injustices.

Your social standings and financial security,
however earned, mean you are privileged to a better life. This means you have a
duty to lead a charitable life helping those less fortunate. Your gender as a
man means you don’t have to deal with some of the sexism and threats women deal
with every day from men who openly attack them simply for being a woman. This
means you have a duty to, at the very least make their everyday a little better
as you understand the burdens of being a woman within today’s society. Remember
that “benevolent sexism” comment? As a gentleman, you are more of a feminist
than most guys who simply believe in treating women as equals. But as I have
said before, not everyone understands chivalry.

Phrases like “I treat everyone
equally” simply mean you refuse to accept the privileges you possess. This, if
anything, means you are doing the very least to lead a civil life while
enjoying how life handed you a better hand. You refuse to acknowledge how your
social standing benefits you, how your race benefits you, how your sexual
orientation benefits you, or how your gender benefits you.

It isn’t that you are better than
anyone, but that you understand that your life has provided you with certain
benefits and blessings, irrelevant of how they happened. Chivalry is an act of
social equity where you recognize your privileges and work to help those around
you. This is why, even though a gentleman might be well off, he is able to remain
humble. You recognize every privilege given to you by life and understand how
others are not as fortunate. You understand that something as simple as being
able to help others, even if it’s as simple as making their lives a little more
comfortable, means you are obligated to do so.

That is why a gentleman holds
himself to such high standards. With all your blessings and good fortune, your
life must be one of service to others. Be honored that within your belief you
carry the traditions and attitude of those who came before you; the Knights,
the Samurai, and the Junzi.

Is Chivalry dead? Not as long as Gentlemen
live with a Warrior’s hearts.

Club Men

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